Now more than ever in our world we need more gratitude.  We hear experts all over the world provide their advice on how to help you through this coronavirus pandemic.  We need our experts now.  We need to hear everything they have to say on the topic and then we choose, choose wisely, whether or not we want to listen.

The other day it hit me as I was walking through the grocery isle.  The severity of the situation.  The mass line ups at the meat counter with very little meat left in the butcher’s case.  I did my part and kept walking rather than wait in a crowded area to get a steak.  The chicken case was completely bare.  Only sausages were left in the center meat case.

I immediately texted my husband, heart racing, holding back tears, shallow breathing as I truly felt fear in the situation.  Sure, I could handle social distancing, sure, I would keep my family safe and do my part, but will we have enough food to eat?  Will the supply chain slow down?  Where will it end?  When will it end?

If you listened to my podcast on my experience with the astrologer, I briefly mentioned this: Many experience anxiety when they look too far into the future; many experience depression when they live in the past.  What’s happening right now can give anyone anxiety.  Our future right now is not exactly known.  These are uncharted waters.

Many right now are living in these two states – longing for the past and fear for our future.

While I have had fleeting moments of both, which I feel is normal for all of us, I choose presence.  I choose gratitude for what I have right here and now.  Hopefully I can help you do the same.  We’ve seen such ugliness of people hording, capitalizing on the situation.  While ugly, I try not to get too upset over it and worry about only what I can control right now.

I am walking every day.  Since I can’t get to the gym, this is my saving grace.  Imagine if this were in the dead of winter, freezing cold and very little daylight and sunshine.  We are entering spring and it’s been sunny almost every day in the last week.  I am grounding myself with nature and doing good for my body.  Gratitude.

I am waking everyday with no alarm with my body’s natural circadian rhythm.  I enjoy my green tea and my cup of coffee in no rush to get anywhere and do anything with any immediacy.  I am watching the squirrels run across my fence every morning as I look out the window enjoying my morning routine.  Gratitude.

I have a gift of knowledge in holistic health and wellness that I can use to help others right now.  I can help my family and friends.  I can help my online community.  Gratitude.

My family, while in super close quarters, are together.  We are healthy.  We are bonded.  We are bonding.  Gratitude.

I have two dogs – I love my pets.  They are a source of pure love and presence and help to alleviate stress.  Gratitude.

I can shower when I want, I can go with no makeup all day, or I can do my hair and look really nice for my walk.  I can do what I want when I want because I have the time. Gratitude.

I meditate every single morning to quiet my mind and lesson the chatter and create more room for clarity.  This will enable me to make clear decisions when I need to.  Allow me to be more in the present.  Allow me to dissipate feelings of depression or anxiety.  Gratitude.

I have the time to work on what my greater vision is for Sandy K Nutrition – my ultimate Balanced Living 6-week program and a lifestyle brand to support all women over 40, 50 and beyond.  This is my vision and always has been.  To articulate my balanced life in a program and create a brand (not that I’m perfect but I got it pretty down pat after screwing up many times over in my life).  Gratitude.

Greater betterment of the world – we are all slowing down.  We’ve all seen the stats of lowering pollution, we are coming together as a community (with only a few outliers), we are becoming more at one with nature.  We are creating good habits again.  We are loving one another more.  We are helping one another more.  Gratitude.